After third SEC loss, Aggies re-evalute

Texas A&M's Kourtney Roberson, center, gets tangled with Vanderbilt's Dai-Jon Parker, left, and James Siakam during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Bryan College Station Eagle, Stuart Villanueva)

Photo By Stuart Villanueva/Associated Press

Texas A&M's Jordan Green goes up for a shot against Vanderbilt's Shelby Moats during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Bryan College Station Eagle, Stuart Villanueva)

Photo By Stuart Villanueva/Associated Press

Vanderbilt's James Siakam knocks the ball away from Texas A&M's Kourtney Roberson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Bryan College Station Eagle, Stuart Villanueva)

COLLEGE STATION - After a surprising start to Southeastern Conference play, Texas A&M this month allowed itself to envision a "big picture" that perhaps included a postseason for the first time in coach Billy Kennedy's three seasons.

But after three consecutive losses on the heels of three straight wins in SEC action, the Aggies have narrowed that big picture. Out of desperation.

"It's a long year, and our 'big picture' is (Sunday) and Monday and the next day," Kennedy said after Vanderbilt's 66-55 victory over A&M on Saturday before 6,520 at Reed Arena. "We played with a lot more confidence the first three games. We've got a young, inexperienced group, and we've got to get ourselves going again."

In a hurry - because Saturday's showing for the first time this season, at least in conference action, looked much like Kennedy's first two years, which resulted in losing records in league play. A&M had defeated Arkansas, Tennessee and South Carolina in its first three SEC games before stubbing its toe last weekend in an 81-72 overtime loss at Mississippi State.

Considering the Aggies (12-7, 3-3 SEC) came close to winning on the road against the Bulldogs and followed that up with a 68-51 loss at Kentucky on Tuesday, fans figured this might be a postseason team in the making. Until Saturday, when A&M appeared lifeless against a Vanderbilt squad featuring only seven scholarship players and one that had lost four of its five previous SEC games.

"We probably caught A&M at the right time," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. "Having been in this league a long time, you get really excited facing a Kentucky team near the top of the league - and it's a little bit harder to get yourself ready to then play Vanderbilt when they're at the bottom of the league."

The Aggies, with leading scorer Jamal Jones going only 1-of-9 from the field against the Commodores (10-8, 2-4), are staring a 3-5 SEC start square in their grimaced faces, with games upcoming at South Carolina on Wednesday and at No. 6 and league-leading Florida on Saturday.

"I don't think we were locked in or whatever we're supposed to be," A&M guard Jordan Green said of the Aggies' third straight stumble following their solid start in SEC play. "That won't happen again, though."